Improvement in wind-powers



2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

J. M. ARMOUR.

WIND-POWER Patented Nov. 23,1875,

WITNESSES I 1.7V VEW TOR 54 By Q I I 2 A3 a n/M v fltlt i N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D O.

JOHN M. ARMOUR, OF NORTHWOOD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-POWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,326, dated November 23, 1875 application filed April 30, 1875.

panying drawings, making part of this specification Figure 1 being a side view of the power;

Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a view in detail of a part of the same; Fig. 4, a top view of a modified construction of thepower; Fig. 5, a side view thereof.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The nature of my invention consists in a new and improved method of utilizing the force of the wind for mechanical uses by a reciprocating movement instead of the ordinary revolving movement of windmills, the reciprocating motion being automatic.

As represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, I employ a fan or wind-moving surface, A, which has a reciprocating motion up and down, being mountedon one end of a vibrating beam or lever, B, that is properly balanced on its fulcrum-support, so that the wind may act upon the fan with full effect in both the upward and downward movement. The support of the lever B may be of any convenient construction. It may be a building,

or other common structure, or a tower, or

high post, or column. I have represented in the drawings a suitable, strong, firm, simplyconstructed tower or structure, 0, for this purpose, consisting of two or more firm posts or timbers, a a, planted at the lower end in the ground, or otherwise stayed in position, being set apart some distance at the bottom, and converging toward each other; thence to the top, where they meet, or nearly meet. These timbers are secured together by cross bars or braces I) b. This construction, besides being strong and steady, also is open and unobstructed in the middle, for communicating the power down to the work below. In the upper end of this support is secured a short tube, D, in a vertical position, both to serve as a pivot around which the fan-lever B may turn, and also to furnish a central passage for the communication of the power from the lever downward by means of ashaft or connecting-rod, Gr. Around the pivot-tube D turns or swivels a fulcrum-seat, E, for the lever B, and rests upon the upper end of the support 0 as it turns. It has two bushes, d d, which surround the pivot-tube, and it has two short standards, cc, which furnish bearings for the fulcrumshaft or journals f of the lever B. one side of the pivot-tube, so that the connecting-rod G may be jointed to the lever di rectly over and in line with the center of the pivot-tube, and be far enough from the fulcrum of the lever to give the required reciprocating motion to the said connecting-rod as the fan-lever vibrates.

To form a proper connection between the connecting-rod and the lever, the former should be attached to a roller or cross-bar, g, turning in bearings of the lever, and there should also be a swivel at the upper end of the connecting-rod, to enable the lever to turn to any point of the compass, according to the direction of the wind, .without turning the connecting-rod, which may not be practicable, as, for instance, if pumping water is the work to be done.

The fan lever or beam B is preferably made of two timbers, h h, spread apart at the end on which the fan A is mounted, and converging together at the other end, as shown in Fig. 2, the two timbers being connected by cross-pieces where necessary. The fan A is pivoted between the separated ends of the lever-timbers, its pivotsi i being at the ends thereof,somewhat nearer to the cuter than to the inner edge of the same, so that the wind, striking against either of its sides, will give more pressure against the part inside of the pivots than the outer part; but the outer part is either thicker than the inner, or otherwise Weighted, so as to nearly or exactly balance the weight of the said inner part. The inner edge has a vibratory or swinging movement around the pivotsi t" to a distance of thirty degrees, more or less, both above and below the plane of the lever, the movement being limited by a cord, is, attached to the inner These standards are a little to.

edge of the fan, and to a cross-bar, l, of the beam, or by fixed stops m m at one end of the fan.

The lever B is constructed to have its two ends balance each other on its fulcrum-pivot, when the fan A is mounted thereon, so that the upward and 'downward vibrations thereof will be equal in effect though, if it be desired to do any work which requires a greater power moving in one than in the other direction, the lever maybe so weighted at one end as to adapt its action to the work.

A suitable counter-weight, a, may be attached to the end opposite to the fan end, and this weight may be adjustable in position nearer to or farther from the fulcrum of the lever.

With this simple construction, the power will operate in a wind automatically with continuous vibrations in the following manner: Suppose the fan end of the lever to have just reached the termination of its upward vibra tion, as shown by full lines in Fig.1; when the upper surface of the fan A begins to present itself to the wind, thenthe pressure of the wind on the upper surface of the fan, acting most strongly on the part inside of the pivots of the fan, causes it at once to shift its position to that indicated by dotted lines in that position of the lever. Thereupon the wind has full effect on the fan to give it a downward motion, and to cause that end of the lever B to descend. This descending motion continues till the fan reaches a position where it begins to present its under surface to the wind, as shown by dotted lines, indicating the lower position ofthe fan-and fan end of the beam. Then theforce ofthe wiiidimmediately changes the inclination of the fan, so as to act with full effect, to again raise the fan and lever, the upward vibration continuing till the lever reaches the position first mentiond. The vibrations are then repeated, as before described, continually. Thus the vibrations of the level are not only continued automatically, but, since the wind strikes and shifts the inclinations of the fan at nearly correspond ing moments in the vibrations of the lever, the result is that the length of the lever vibrations are nearly uniform, producing regularity of work.

The inclinations of the vanes may be varied by adjustment, so that the wind will take it and shift its inclinations quicker or later, thus shortening or lengthening the vibrations of the lever at W111.

The inclinations of the fan, both above and below the plane of the lever, are represented as equal; but they may be unequal to almost any extent, so that instead of descending just as far below as above the horizontal plane, the vibrations may be nearly all above or below, or any degreeof preponderance either "way, as may be desired. By using the stops mm at the end of the fan, and making them adjustable in position, this variation of effect may be produced at pleasure. l

The action of the wind on the fan itself always keeps it faced to the wind, the other end of the beam always pointing'to the windf the force to the machinery below is connected with a crank movement, and two or more fanlevers are connected with the same movement, the cranks may be placed at different angles in the circle of revolution, so as to act alter= nately on the crank-shaft.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown the arrange ment of the fandever and fan to" vibrate on a vertical shaft, the operation 'of the faniand lever being the same in principle and effect as the arrangement on a horizontal shaft.

The fan-lever B is secured in a horizontal position fixedly to a vertical shaft, H, so that it can vibrate freely to any extent desired. The fan A is mounted .on the outer end of this lever between its two arms, in the same manner as in the vertically-vibrating lever shown in the other figures, except that it is situated vertically endwise.

The shifting of the inclinations of theifan, as it reaches the termination of each vibration, and begins to present its forwardlymoving side to the wind, is just the same as in the other construction, and the limitations of its vibrations are determined in the same way. In this case no balancing of the lever on the shaft is necessary, though it may be so constructed. The lever and fan are also, by their own action, kept turned from the wind.

The power may be communicated from the vertically-rocking or axially-vibrating shaft H by any convenient means, which it is not necessary here to describe. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pivoted vibratoryfau, A, mounted on an oscillating lever, B, arranged to act in both directions of the lever oscillations,and self-adj ustin g to the wind atthe close of each oscillation, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. .l

2. In combination with the fan A and fanlever B, the pivot-tube D at the top of the support 0, and the swiveled fulcrum-seat E, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

Specification signed by me this 1st day of April, 1875.

JOHN M. ARMOUR.

Witnesses:

A. B. ELLIOTT, QUINCY GWYNN. 

